Medicine spoon



March 16, 1943. J P. TAKAcl-l MEDICINE SPOON INVENTOR. w/O'SEPl-l P774/mch i BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 16, 1943 MEDICINE SPOON Joseph P. Takach,'West New Brighton, Staten Y 1 Island, N. Y.

Application January 9, 1940, Serial N0. 313,132

3 Claims. (01. 30-326) This invention relates generally to spoons and more particularly to medicine spoons.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a medicine spoon structure in which the spoon may be loaded with a medicine or other similar material and then closed so that the spoon may be inverted. without discharging the contents thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a medicine spoon structure in which the valve element thereof is easily operated. so that the same may be readily opened within the patients mouth and the medicine prepared to be discharged therefrom.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a medicine spoon which may be readily disassembled for cleaning purposes and in which all the parts thereof are readily accessible, so that said spoon may be maintained in a sanitary condition.

In accordance with the present invention another feature thereof lies in the fact that the present improved medicine administering spoon is simple in construction and may be manufactured in large quantities -at low cost so that the same may have a wide-distribution among the population. a

It is a well known fact that considerable difi'iculty is encountered when administering drugs to patients, especially if the patients-are children. Frequently, the drug or similar preparationhas an unpleasant taste and in the childs efforts to avoid being fed the same, the medicine is spilled resulting in considerable untidiness; bother and loss of dosage. i

In accordance with the present invention, it is necessary only to actuate thev-alve thereon, into an open position thereof, to introduce into the spoon the proper dose, close the valve -insert the entire closed spoon into the patients mouth, then open the valve allowing the contents of the spoon to enter the mouth. Since in a-pplicants improved construction; the open end from which the medicine flows out is at the tip of the spoon,

said open end will be disposed toward the rear of the mouth when the spoon is inserted into the mouth of the patient. In this manne'n-it is possible to avoid depositing very much of the drug on the tongue so that the taste of thedrug where the, same is distasteful isnotperceived by-the patient to as great an extent.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

' notch 20. The handle i 5 is preferably elongated In the drawin in whichsirnilar reference characters, designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing a firs embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transversevertical sec tional view as, seen from the plane 22 on Fig-. ure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic transverse, sectional view as seen from the plane 33 on Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view taken similarly. to. Figure 1, and showing a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a vertical. transverse sectional view as seen from the plane 5+5 on, Figure 4.

Turning now tothe first embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive of the accompanyingdrawingythe device for administering drugs, or similar material, is generally indicated by numeral l0. and comprises generally a spoon II and a valve member l2.

The spoon II includes a bowl portion 3, a cover plate or top wall I and a handle I5. The top wall It is preferably integrally connected at the peripheral'edge thereof with the peripheral edge of the bowl portion [3. The top wall I4 is provided at the forward portion thereof with an irregular shaped filling and discharging opening.

or orifice I6; at the rear portion with air vents I7; and between the air vents ll and the orifice 6, with a forward guide element engaging orifice E8. The forward edge of the orificev Wis preferably coterminous with the forward or leading edge I9, while the rear edge thereof is rounded and is provided with a cleaning indentation or and has the longitudinal side edges thereof parallel. The end of the handle-is preferably bent downwardly and forwardly to form the hook portion 21. The handle [5, forwardly of the hook portion isprovided with a pair of oppositely dis.- posed notches 22, only one of which is seen in Figure 1, but which are indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. The notches 22 are disposed on the handle l5 at a point to therear of the fingers 23 when they are in the normal retracted position thereof as will be more fully described hereinbelow. The upper flat surfaces. of the,

handle I5 and the top wall Mare preferably co-plan-ar.

' The valve member [2 is preferably an elongated fiat plate, the under surface of which is smooth so that the same may make a good sliding fit with the upper surface of the top wall M and the handle [5. The forward portion of the valve member is transversely enlarged to form the valve plate 24, which is slightly wider than the orifice I6. The valve plate 24 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 25, the forward end of said slot being disposed at a sufiicient distance from the leading edge 26 so that when the valve member I2 is in the retracted or open position thereof material may flow through the orifice I6 unobstructed. The rear end of the slot 25 is disposed with relation to the edge 26 so that when the valve plate 24 is in the advanced or closed position thereof the edge 26 may be coterminous with the edge I9 so that no leakage of fluid material from the spoon bowl I3 may occur. The Valve plate 24 is maintained in operative relation and contact with the top wall I4 by the forward guide element means preferably a resilient washer and a headed screw 2'! which threadedly engages the threaded orifice I8. The rear portion of the valve member I2 is pro vided with the pair of downwardly and inwardly bent fingers 23; while the rear end of the member I2 is upwardly and forwardly bent to form the valve hook portion 28. The fingers 23 slidably engage the longitudinal side edges and adjacent portions of the under surface of the handle I5, and are so disposed on the valve member I2 that when the screw 21 contacts the forward end of the slot 25, said fingers Will not reach the notches 22.

Operation of the first embodiment of the invention here follows. With the valve member I2 in the retracted or open position thereof as indicated by the full lines in Figure 1, the device III is preferably held in a level position. The hook portions 2| and 28 are conveniently grasped. Preferably the middle finger engages the hook 2| while the thumb and index finger engage the hook 28. The desired amount or close of medicine or other material is placed within the bowl portion I3 through the orifice I6. This operation is facilitated by the vents I'I acting to prevent the formation of any air pockets in the rear of the bowl portion I3. The valve member I2 is now slid to the advanced or closed position thereof as indicated by the dot dash lines in Figure 1. In this position the valve plate 24 closes both the orifice I6 and the vents II. The bowl portion I3 is next partially or fully inserted into the mouth of the patient and the spoon is tilted. The valve member is shifted to the open position and the contents are allowed to fiow through orifice IE into the patients mouth. The vents I! prevent a vacuum forming in the device.

When it is desired to fully clean the device I it is only necessary to remove the washer and screw 21, slide the valve member I2 rearwardly 'until the fingers 23 may be lifted through the notches 22. With the parts thus separated, they may be individually washed and sterilized. A suitable swab or brush may be inserted through the orifice I'd and this operation is facilitated by the notch 20 permitting more convenient access to the interior of the device.

In reassembling the parts, the above described procedure is reversed. The screw 21 may be adjusted to permit a proper amount of friction in moving the valve member I2, and if turned tight will secure the valve member in any desired position.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing indicated generally by numeral III), the same comprises generally a spoon II and a valve member H2.

The principal difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment lies in the provision of a depression or channel I30 in the top wall H4 having parallel side edges. The valve member I I2 is provided with an offset bend at I3I so that the lower surface thereof may have a sliding fit with the upper surface of handle H5. The channelled construction of the top wall H4 provides a more accurate longitudinal guide means for the outer longitudinal edges of the valve plate I24 and a tighter seal between the valve plate I24 and the top wall I I4 adjacent the orifice H6. The other parts are given corresponding reference characters in the one hundreds.

By reason of the bend at I3I, in removing the valve member H2 for cleaning purposes, it is necessary to raise the valve plate I24 slightly after the screw I2I has been removed. This is permitted by allowing sufficient clearance between the fingers I23 and the handle H5.

It may thus be seen that there has been disclosed a novel and useful spoon for administering medicine and other materials. By suitable changes in the general size of the device the same may be readily adapted for use with infants, children, adults and animals. The device is convenient and sanitary and may be constructed at low cost.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim: I

1. A medicine administering device comprising: a spoon; a top wall on said spoon; said top wall having a relatively large orifice in the forward portion thereof, and a relatively small orifice in the rear portion thereof; a valve plate shiftably disposed with relation to said top wall and adapted in one position thereof to allow a free passage through both of said orifices and in another position to close both of said orifices.

2. A medicine administering device comprising: a spoon; a top wall on said spoon; said top wall having a relatively large orifice in the forward portion thereof and a small orifice 1n the rear portion thereof; a valve plate for exposably covering said orifices and having a slot therein, said valve plate being shiftably disposed with relation to said top wall and adapted in one position thereof to expose said forward orifice to allow free passage therethrough, while said slot is positionedat the small orifice to prevent obstructing pressure conditions within the spoon.

3. A device of the class described comprising: a spoon; a top wall on said spoon having an orifice therein, a valve member slidably disposed with relation to said top wall and adapted in the open position thereof to allow a free passage through said orifice, and in another position to close said orifice; said valve member including a longitudinally disposed slot and means detachably engaging said top wall and cooperating with said slot to maintain the valve member in proper slidable relation with said wall.

JOSEPH P. TAKACH. 

